Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I don't like to exercise. Sure, I always feel better after I've moved around, but getting the motivation to actually "exercise" is a struggle. I really don't mind walking so much...the fresh air does me a world of good, the Dog is ecstatic to be going somewhere, and I have to wear a swimsuit in two weeks (ugh).

So I decided a great motivator (besides the swimsuit situation) would be to bring along my new camera while I go walking, and challenge myself to take an interesting photo before I can head back.

I just decided that this morning, actually, so here is the result from my first day.

"Don't be chickens, follow me!"

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﻿﻿The Dog spotted the ducks before I did. It was a challenge to keep the camera steady while hanging on to a tugging and salivating Dog's leash. She would have been delighted to flush the birds out of there. That's a Lab's job, after all.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I've been struck with the funk for the last few days. It's had me out of order since the weekend. I always know I'm coming down with something when I don't feel like drinking coffee. Been sipping herbal teas instead, since Saturday.

But I turned a corner today. I popped out of bed before 5 this morning, and have already unloaded the dishwasher and started a load of laundry.

It's supposed to be in the 50s this week (!), and I can't wait to get some fresh air and start walking outside again. I told my dog last night we were "going for a walk" today, and she stared intently at me, head tilted, ears perked - making sure I wasn't kidding. She hasn't heard those words for quite awhile. And now that I've said it, she won't let me out of it.

Think I'll go look for my walking shoes now. And brew up some coffee.

We've been having beautiful sunrises lately. I took this picture Sunday.

I really like having a chaos-free work area and home. It wasn't always that way. Like all creative types, my brain is in a constant state of idea-forming, skipping back and forth, dashing from one thing to the next. So I like my outside world to be calm. I like knowing just where to find what I'm looking for, so I'm not focusing creative energy looking for tools. Believe me, when I'm in the middle of an artistic project, it gets messy. I don't fret about it.

But once in a while I have to shut things down, sweep up the scraps, scrape off the paint, and put things back where they belong.

I'm about to shift focus and work on crafting some items for my neglected etsy shop, enter more art contests, play with my collection of vintage fabrics and beads, and spend quality time with my hibernating sewing machine.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Wintertime makes me want to knit.I've been addicted since my mother-in-law showed me how to knit about six years ago. The click-click-click of the needles and the repetivite motion ease my nervous energy. One of the first knitting projects I ever undertook was an afghan intended as a Christmas present, when my sister was pregnant with her second baby. The afghan was celery green, super soft, and completely wonky!

I worked on that thing every free moment I had. I'd just pick up the needles and start knitting. Many times I'd fall asleep or get distracted in the middle of a row. Had no idea what I was doing...no pattern...no instructions...no plan.

Well I finished the afghan right before Christmas. I hadn't really paid much attention to how it was shaping up overall, until I cast off my last row. Geometry was never my strong suit, but I remember what a trapezoid looks like. My afghan was a trapezoid.

I've gotten better at knitting since then. But still, I can only knit squares or rectangles (i.e., dishcloths or scarves). And I really only know how to do a basic knit stitch. I've thought about expanding my knitting skills, but then I'd have to count and actually think while I'm knitting. This sort of defeats the purpose of knitting for me.

Due to my lack of fancy knitting ability,I play up the embellishments:

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So what ever happened to my trapezoid afghan?

At the last minute I gift-wrapped the afghan and put it under the tree at my sister's house. My intention was to give them something to open, with the promise to make them a perfect rectangle in the near future. Like, after I found a pattern to follow.

When my sister opened the present and unfurled the afghan, she cried. She said this imperfect afghan meant more to her than a flawless one. And they've actually used it! A lot. It has covered laps, feet, napping babies, and even served as the roof for a couch fort. My sister and her family have since moved to a beautiful new house.

Monday, March 7, 2011

As I sit this morning, again watching the snow come down in diagonal sheets,

I am warmed by microwave heat bags, and memories of a fantastic creative weekend.

Sarah and her little dog Fritz were here Saturday to work on a project we started awhile back.
These are personalized sweater pins. Super cute, and handy too.
You can use one as a closure on a cardigan, or just for bling purposes.

It was so fun to have Kathy come by to join the bead/wine/whine fest!

Love Pin

Life is short...BUY the shoes

Zodiac Pin

Sunday, after redeeming the Jo-Ann Fabric coupons that were burning a hole in my bag,

Artist Profile

If your heart is inspired, I'd love you to leave a comment or send a message to berge.rager@yahoo.com.
A little about me: A farm girl at heart, I can't remember a time when I wasn't working on or dreaming about a creative idea. Constant sources of colorful inspiration are my fabulous family and friends, my loyal black Lab and comical tiger cat, my vibrant flower garden, music, being outside, traveling far and near, making greeting cards for my church's missionary program, anything that involves the word FUN, and the splendid bliss of creating something that makes my heart flutter.
Visit my online shop:
www.happyheartstudio.etsy.com